Iran urges foreign sides to respect Venezuela election results

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi calls on foreign sides to respect the vote of the Venezuelan people in the country's presidential election and support the establishment of political stability and economic development in Caracas.

“Holding the election and its result despite domestic pressure and foreign threats and sanctions is a big success and victory for democracy in Venezuela and the country's government and nation,” Qassemi said on Monday.

He once again expressed the Islamic Republic's solidarity with the Venezuelan government and nation and its full readiness to further strengthen mutual relations with the Latin American country.

Nicolas Maduro has been re-elected for a second term in office as Venezuela’s president after he took 68 percent of votes – more than three times as many as his main challenger, Henri Falcon.

Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro raises a finger as he is surrounded by supporters while speaking during a gathering after the results of the election were released, outside of the Miraflores Palace in Caracas, Venezuela, on May 20, 2018. (Photo by Reuters)

With the country’s mainstream opposition having boycotted the vote, the turnout was 46.1 percent, according to the board, which means 8.6 million out of the 20.5 million eligible voters took part in the election.